Park Jin-Hee in Coreana Hitler ad

Korean Cosmetics Company Creates World's Most Tasteless Serum Ad

Initially, Coreana only removed the reference to Hitler, but the imagery (below) still speaks for itself. Finally, after protests by the Israeli Embassy and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the company has pulled the ad campaign. There haven't been any apologies yet, but I think that would be a good place for Coreana to start.

It's about recognizing artistry, even though it might be deemed offensive. I would not want to live in a world where all "offensive" art was not allowed to exist. Think of all the art we would be missing out on. The whole issue is that no one person can deem what is offensive and what is not. Honestly looking at these photos without the explanation, I wouldn't have thought of Hitler. And, the metaphor is correct... Hitler could not have both the East and the West, and they are claiming their product does. If this ad was offensive, say towards... the people of Tibet and their struggles and genocides, I doubt national embassies would get involved.
If someone is offended, they should not buy the product, say whatever they want about it and not look at the pictures, but I don't think the ad should have disappeared completely.

It's about recognizing artistry, even though it might be deemed offensive. I would not want to live in a world where all "offensive" art was not allowed to exist. Think of all the art we would be missing out on. The whole issue is that no one person can deem what is offensive and what is not. Honestly looking at these photos without the explanation, I wouldn't have thought of Hitler. And, the metaphor is correct... Hitler could not have both the East and the West, and they are claiming their product does. If this ad was offensive, say towards... the people of Tibet and their struggles and genocides, I doubt national embassies would get involved.If someone is offended, they should not buy the product, say whatever they want about it and not look at the pictures, but I don't think the ad should have disappeared completely.

I agree that there are lots of commercials and ads in the US that perpetuate racial and ethnic stereotypes. (Particularly how "exotic" woman of color allegedly are. That stuff never seems to go away.) And when an American beauty company uses racist advertising, you know I'll post on it. If you've seen any American beauty ads that you find offensive, let me know.
But... I think that using Nazi imagery to sell a beauty product is remarkably horrible. Considering six million people were murdered by Hitler's regime, dressing Park Jin-Hee in the uniform of the SS is unacceptable. I would think that no matter where the ad came from, and it doesn't have anything to do with my being a US citizen. It's just in terrible taste to glamorize Hitler to sell a beauty product.

I agree that there are lots of commercials and ads in the US that perpetuate racial and ethnic stereotypes. (Particularly how "exotic" woman of color allegedly are. That stuff never seems to go away.) And when an American beauty company uses racist advertising, you know I'll post on it. If you've seen any American beauty ads that you find offensive, let me know.But... I think that using Nazi imagery to sell a beauty product is remarkably horrible. Considering six million people were murdered by Hitler's regime, dressing Park Jin-Hee in the uniform of the SS is unacceptable. I would think that no matter where the ad came from, and it doesn't have anything to do with my being a US citizen. It's just in terrible taste to glamorize Hitler to sell a beauty product.

Thx bigenstivediscuit and tokki83 for the support!!
While I know this is about ONE specific incident the point of my comment was: Does anyone in the U.S. notice any of the highly offensive American advertisements????
Or as Americans, is it just easier to pick on other countries?

Thx bigenstivediscuit and tokki83 for the support!!While I know this is about ONE specific incident the point of my comment was: Does anyone in the U.S. notice any of the highly offensive American advertisements????Or as Americans, is it just easier to pick on other countries?

I whole-heartedly agree with anongirl. This advert is inherently wrong, but in America, there are PLENTY of deeply offensive magazine, television, and other types of advertisement that perpetuate stereotypes of Asian people (I know that's not the point of this Korean advertisement - it's just wrong in its own way!) that Asians have spent decades trying to overturn. Yet no one seems to mind ... hmmm ... food for thought?

the slogan on the second pic slogan reads:'even hitler couldnt have both the east and the west'which is kinda focusing on the product's dual function, i guess, as the article saysi have to agree, whichever company created this and the person who let it pass did not consider any after effects, nor did they have any world history classes..

the slogan on the second pic slogan reads:
'even hitler couldnt have both the east and the west'
which is kinda focusing on the product's dual function, i guess, as the article says
i have to agree, whichever company created this and the person who let it pass did not consider any after effects, nor did they have any world history classes..

I think it goes without saying that use of Hitler or Nazi imagery in any advertising is inappropriate and insensitive.
However, I hate comments like, "I have to wonder what they would say to a Western company that used Korean stereotypes or offensive imagery to create an ad campaign. A little sensitivity goes a long way."
Are you kidding me? Being Asian in the U.S. (and btw, I am full American born and bred here) means I am bombarded with such stereotypical and offensive imagery in ad campaigns and other forms of mass media on a daily basis. Most recently there is a pinesol ad with a buddhist-looking shirtless and bald Asian man levetating and meditating who then says in Korean: "Wow, that smells good!" as he falls to the ground and looks over at a Korean woman mopping the floors barefoot. The imagery of the barefoot Asian woman cleaning, the exoticized Asian male (and btw the majority of Koreans in Korea are not Buddhist, they are Christian, although I know to Western audiences being Buddhist seems a lot "cooler"), the use of Korean with subtitles, are all offensive to me. Do Western Americans bat an eye at this? I doubt it. Just another add for floor cleaner.
But one ad in a foreign country goes awry, and we get a blog on Bella Sugar. Maybe we can focus first on what's wrong with ads in the U.S. I hate to call myself American and call the kettle black.

I think it goes without saying that use of Hitler or Nazi imagery in any advertising is inappropriate and insensitive.However, I hate comments like, "I have to wonder what they would say to a Western company that used Korean stereotypes or offensive imagery to create an ad campaign. A little sensitivity goes a long way." Are you kidding me? Being Asian in the U.S. (and btw, I am full American born and bred here) means I am bombarded with such stereotypical and offensive imagery in ad campaigns and other forms of mass media on a daily basis. Most recently there is a pinesol ad with a buddhist-looking shirtless and bald Asian man levetating and meditating who then says in Korean: "Wow, that smells good!" as he falls to the ground and looks over at a Korean woman mopping the floors barefoot. The imagery of the barefoot Asian woman cleaning, the exoticized Asian male (and btw the majority of Koreans in Korea are not Buddhist, they are Christian, although I know to Western audiences being Buddhist seems a lot "cooler"), the use of Korean with subtitles, are all offensive to me. Do Western Americans bat an eye at this? I doubt it. Just another add for floor cleaner.But one ad in a foreign country goes awry, and we get a blog on Bella Sugar. Maybe we can focus first on what's wrong with ads in the U.S. I hate to call myself American and call the kettle black.